Inspecting Townhomes in Tustin

There is a persistent assumption among townhome buyers that anything outside the front door is the association's problem. It is not necessarily true, and finding out which side of the line a repair falls on after you own it is an expensive way to learn.

Ingraffia Home Inspections has been inspecting in Orange County since 2003. To book in Tustin, call (714) 371-8422 or request an inspection.

Roofs

Roof defects on townhouses are consistently among the largest findings. Often nobody knows about the defect yet; sometimes someone knew and there have been several unsuccessful attempts to fix it.

One thing worth checking yourself before anyone arrives: tree branches should never touch a roof. They damage the covering directly, and they hand pests a route into crawlspaces, walls and vents. It is the equivalent of leaving a door propped open.

Decks and patios

Inspectors find more problems with decks than with any other component of a home.

On townhouses, decks are frequently the owner's responsibility rather than the association's, and the giveaway is visual: if the decks around the property are in visibly different states of repair, they are being maintained individually. If they are identical, they are probably being maintained collectively - which still leaves you wanting to know yours was built properly.

A very common defect is the wrong nails used at the joist hangers, and it has nothing to do with whether the property is a townhouse. An improperly attached deck is the leading cause of deck collapse. The inspection looks for missing nails and hangers and for anything that looks out of place.

Exterior maintenance and assessments

Exterior maintenance on townhouses generally does sit with the association - but that raises a different question, which is whether the association is aware of the large expenses coming. If it is not, the answer eventually arrives as a special assessment on the owners.

Rot in wood retaining walls and fences, rusted or damaged metal railings and gates: worth knowing about before you buy, whoever ends up paying to fix it.

What to do with all this

Read the association's documents alongside the inspection report, and be clear about where your responsibilities begin. Associations frequently do not know about a needed repair until an owner tells them, and raising it early is cheaper than raising it after someone is hurt.

Condos, townhomes and manufactured homes start at $350; the full rate card is published.